ORANGEVALE (CBS13) – There’s clearly a lot of love for one Marine, now living in his own home specially made for him and his needs. For the first time in three years, Marine Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Field was able to look in a mirror designed for his height.
After serving for more than two decades, he’s made sacrifices that could never be fully repaid.
But one group went above and beyond to show him it wasn’t for nothing.
Sadly he won't get to enjoy his new home for very long. The mean survival time for someone with ALS is 2 to 5 years after diagnosis. Rare cases survive a decade or so. It's a nasty horrible disease.
I had the same thought. But if anything can be done to make his final fight easier, fantastic. I often hear stories about some of the bad apples in our military, but the only reason that I hear those is because they are an exception. The vast members of our military, from what I see, are serving because they want to be part of something bigger than themselves. Of course, a lot of them want to take advantage of the benefits that they can get, like help with college, or training for a job after they leave the service. But the rank and file military members still have my respect and gratitude. The leadership of the military, especially at the higher levels, however, doesn't have such respect. The higher that an officer goes in the military, the more political they must be, and the less concern for their soldiers and sailors, etc. that they seem to have. It has been that way for a very long time, but it seems to have gotten worse, the older I get. I suppose that it is due to the fact that politics has invaded every part of American life, and the bi-partisanship of old, even as recently as Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton, has been destroyed. Politics has now become a blood sport, instead of the desire to help America to become better.
You never know how having some worries relieved might be life-extending. We can't restore them or fix them; but we can ease their burden. Certainly his quality of life for the time he's around is improved, and isn't that what it's all about?
I am privileged to call Colonel William "Bill" Ivey a friend. He's a graduate of USMA, a career Infantry Ranger and the real deal trigger puller. He works for Homes for Our Troops, sleeps on the floor of his office when there, all so that he can do his part to make life a little easier for those less fortunate. regards, Alemaster
Sadly he won't get to enjoy his new home for very long. The mean survival time for someone with ALS is 2 to 5 years after diagnosis. Rare cases survive a decade or so. It's a nasty horrible disease.
ReplyDeleteI had the same thought. But if anything can be done to make his final fight easier, fantastic. I often hear stories about some of the bad apples in our military, but the only reason that I hear those is because they are an exception. The vast members of our military, from what I see, are serving because they want to be part of something bigger than themselves.
DeleteOf course, a lot of them want to take advantage of the benefits that they can get, like help with college, or training for a job after they leave the service. But the rank and file military members still have my respect and gratitude.
The leadership of the military, especially at the higher levels, however, doesn't have such respect. The higher that an officer goes in the military, the more political they must be, and the less concern for their soldiers and sailors, etc. that they seem to have. It has been that way for a very long time, but it seems to have gotten worse, the older I get. I suppose that it is due to the fact that politics has invaded every part of American life, and the bi-partisanship of old, even as recently as Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton, has been destroyed. Politics has now become a blood sport, instead of the desire to help America to become better.
You never know how having some worries relieved might be life-extending.
ReplyDeleteWe can't restore them or fix them; but we can ease their burden.
Certainly his quality of life for the time he's around is improved, and isn't that what it's all about?
CC
I am privileged to call Colonel William "Bill" Ivey a friend. He's a graduate of USMA, a career Infantry Ranger and the real deal trigger puller. He works for Homes for Our Troops, sleeps on the floor of his office when there, all so that he can do his part to make life a little easier for those less fortunate. regards, Alemaster
ReplyDelete